VERMILLION, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team placed three players in double digits but dropped a 73-64 decision to DI South Dakota in exhibition play on Saturday at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

USD, the defending Summit League regular season champions, trailed USF early but led 33-24 at halftime. Both teams scored 40 points in the second half.

Leading the way for USF was junior forward Drew Guebert, who had 14 points, including 4-of-9 shots from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line before fouling out with seven minutes to play.  Redshirt freshman forward Teathloach Pal added 12 points with seven rebounds. He was 3-of-7 from the field and knocked down a three-pointer. Junior guard Trevon Evans added 11 points with seven rebounds and was 2-of-5 from three-point range. Also for USF, senior forward Jerrod Walton provided eight points, four assists and four rebounds while senior guard Zach Wessels provided six points and three rebounds. Off the bench Austin Slater had six rebounds and four points.

Tyler Hagedorn led South Dakota with 15 points and six rebounds. Carlton Hurst had 10 rebounds, adding eight points. All-Summit League guard Matt Money scored 11 points and Nick Fuller added 10.

While USF owned a 41-39 advantage on the boards, the Coyotes had better success in shooting. They made 28-of-62 field goals for 45.2 percent. USF, which had a significant free throw edge with 25 charity tosses to 13 for USD, was able to make just 18-of-51 shots from the field for 35.3 percent. The Cougars made 3-of-12 from three-point range and the Coyotes didn't fare much better on 4-of-16 shooting.

South Dakota jumped to a 10-5 lead on a jumper by Mooney at the 16:55 mark. But the Cougars answered with an 8-0 run to grab a 13-10 lead after a lay-up by Wessels at the 12:25 mark. Consecutive jumpers by Guebert helped the Cougars to their largest advantage of the game at 17-12 with 9:58 to play in the half. The Cougars also led, 19-14, after a lay-up by Evans at the 9:33 mark.

The Coyotes responded with a 12-0 run, keyed by a three-pointer from Hagedorn and a three-point play from Hurst for a 26-19 lead with 5:33 left in the first half. USD pushed the advantage to 31-21 with two minutes to play before Pal's three-pointer drew the Cougars within seven at 31-24 (1:23). A lay-up by Tristan Simpson (:18) helped USD take a 33-24 lead.

With a jumper from Tom Aase (18:21) and a lay-up by Justin Taylor, the Cougars drew within 36-30 at the 15:59 mark of the second half. The Coyotes answered when Brandon Armstrong connected on a three-pointer and Tyler Peterson added a basket for a 48-35 lead (12:37).

Evans converted a three-point play to cut USD's advantage to 51-43 with 10:40 to play. Then, two foul shots from Wessels further trimmed the margin to 51-45 at the 9:40 mark.

Once again, the Coyotes had an answer with a 15-5 run for a 66-50 advantage (5:35). The Cougars rallied, cutting the margin to 71-62 after Evans hit a three-pointer at the 1:56 mark.  Two foul shots by freshman Chase Grinde with 1:09 to play finished the scoring as USF fell, 73-64.

Next for the Cougars will be two games in Emporia, Kan., on Nov. 10-11 in the MIAA-NSIC Challenge. USF will face Emporia State on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and face Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11.